Mimi Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mimi Kennedy
Kennedy speaks at the National Election Integrity Conference in 2017.
Born	Mary Claire Kennedy (1948-09-25) September 25, 1948 (age 76) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, writer
Years active	1970–present
Spouse(s)	Larry Dilg ​ (m. 1978)​
Children	2

Mary Claire "Mimi" Kennedy (born September 25, 1948) is an American actress, author, and activist. She is well-known for her roles in TV shows, especially comedies. Mimi Kennedy became famous for playing Ruth Sloan on the show Homefront (1991–1993).

She gained even more recognition for her parts in the comedies Dharma & Greg (1997–2002) and Mom (2013–2021). For her work on Mom, she was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award. Kennedy has also appeared in many movies, including Erin Brockovich (2000) and Midnight in Paris (2011).

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Mimi Kennedy was born in Rochester, New York. Her parents were Nancy Helen and Daniel Gerald Kennedy. She started acting in theater when she was just 12 years old. Her first play was Agatha Christie's Spider Web in October 1960.

She grew up in Rochester and finished high school there in 1966. In the 1970s, she was in a musical called Rhinegold. The songs for this musical were written by her friend, Jim Steinman. She also went to Smith College.

Mimi Kennedy's Acting Journey

Mimi Kennedy was part of the cast for The National Lampoon Show. This show was directed by John Belushi, who also acted in it. She tried out for Saturday Night Live but the role went to Jane Curtin.

Starting on Broadway and TV

Kennedy appeared in the Broadway musical Grease. In 1977, she got a role in a short TV show called 3 Girls 3. She acted alongside Debbie Allen and Ellen Foley in this show.

Later, she played the sister of Stockard Channing in Stockard Channing in Just Friends (1979). She was also a regular on The Big Show (1980). During the 1980s, she starred in several TV comedies that didn't last long. These included The Two of Us (1981–1982) and Spencer (1984–1985).

Big Roles and Popular Shows

Mimi Kennedy took on a more serious role in the TV drama Homefront. This show was very popular and ran from 1991 to 1993. After that, she was a regular on Savannah (1996–1997). She played a wealthy step-mother in that series.

In 1997, Kennedy returned to comedy. She played Abby O'Neil, Dharma's mother, in the hit sitcom Dharma & Greg. This show was on TV from 1997 to 2002.

Guest Roles and Later Success

In the 2000s, Kennedy had many guest roles on popular TV shows. She appeared in episodes of Grey's Anatomy, House, ER, and Scandal.

She also had supporting roles in several movies. These included In the Loop (2009), Due Date (2010), and Midnight in Paris (2011). In 2013, Kennedy joined the cast of the comedy show Mom. She played Marjorie, a helpful mentor to the main characters. Her performance on Mom earned her a nomination for a Critics' Choice Television Award. She became a main cast member in the show's second season.

In 2022, Kennedy shared a video. In it, she and her husband Larry Dilg talked about their friendships with Jim Steinman and Meatloaf. Kennedy also shared stories from her time touring with The National Lampoon Show.

Mimi Kennedy's Personal Life and Activism

Mimi Kennedy is involved in several causes that aim to bring about positive social change. She is the chairperson of the board for the Progressive Democrats of America. She also writes regularly for a publication called LA Progressive.

In 1996, she published a book about her life as an actress, called Taken to the Stage: The Education of an Actress. This book was re-released in 2023 as a paperback and an audiobook.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Mimi Kennedy para niños